Fantasy Football playoff races are heating up as we head into Week 12, and the running back waiver wire is both enticing and confusing. Marlon Mack's injury opens up an opportunity in Indianapolis, but on Tuesday afternoon we don't have a very clear idea who will take it. Bo Scarbrough's emergence in Detroit was a bit mystifying, but if he holds on to the job he could absolutely be a starter against Washington.
In Indianapolis the first piece of information we're missing is the health of Jordan Wilkins. Wilkins missed Week 11, which opened up the door for Jonathan Williams' breakout. Wilkins was able to participate in practice on Tuesday, which only muddies things further. By Wednesday afternoon we should have a better idea, but that will be too late for many of you.
That uncertainty is what keeps me from placing Williams atop my waiver wire priority list. He's definitely still on the list, but his ceiling is held down by the matchup against the Texans and the presence of Nyheim Hines. The fact that Wilkins could return and take more of the early down work only makes him less attractive. I'll make claims on all three Colts running backs, but first I'm looking for a Lion.
Scarbrough surprisingly took the first carry for the Lions on Sunday and didn't look back. No other back on the team received more than three rush attempts and Scarbrough led the team with 55 rushing yards. In Week 12 he'll face a Washington defense that has allowed the eighth-most Fantasy points to running backs. This should be a spot where thee Lions can run the ball early and often, and Scarbrough looks like their top option.
Of course, he doesn't come without warts, either. Scarbrough won't likely get work in the passing game, the Lions are not a good run offense and they've not remained committed to one back since Kerryon Johnson went down. Scarbrough is my favorite running back to add, but he's not worth blowing your FAAB on. No one is this week.
Week 12 RB Preview
The following players are not being projected to play Week 12 at this time. Here's what it means:
- 3.5 - Duke Johnson's yards after contact per attempt. That's tied with Chris Carson for the best in the league. He's an interesting flex against the Colts.
- 0 - Touches for David Johnson in Week 11. I don't want to cut him, but I can't make an argument for holding him through his bye.
- 9 - Austin Ekeler's PPR rank since Melvin Gordon returned in Week 5.
- 6.1 - Devin Singletary's yards per carry this season. He received volume in Week 11, but just didn't reach the end zone. I'm still starting him.
- 2 - Targets in two games for Royce Freeman since Brandon Allen took over at quarterback. Freeman is being squeezed out, and Allen doesn't target running backs enough.
RB Preview
Matchups that matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
RB Preview
Heath's Projections
Non-PPR Rank | PPR Rank | RB | FPTs | PPR FPTs |
1 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | 22.16 | 27.42 |
2 | 2 | Alvin Kamara | 17.42 | 24.70 |
5 | 3 | Leonard Fournette | 16.72 | 21.11 |
4 | 4 | Josh Jacobs | 17.11 | 19.32 |
3 | 5 | Nick Chubb | 17.32 | 19.22 |
6 | 6 | Derrick Henry | 16.71 | 18.42 |
14 | 7 | Saquon Barkley | 12.94 | 18.04 |
7 | 8 | Tevin Coleman | 15.30 | 17.59 |
9 | 9 | Chris Carson | 14.48 | 17.54 |
8 | 10 | Ezekiel Elliott | 14.78 | 16.98 |
12 | 11 | Devin Singletary | 13.59 | 16.51 |
11 | 12 | Aaron Jones | 13.65 | 16.37 |
10 | 13 | Todd Gurley | 13.68 | 16.09 |
17 | 14 | Le'Veon Bell | 11.98 | 15.82 |
15 | 15 | Mark Ingram | 12.91 | 15.14 |
13 | 16 | David Montgomery | 13.00 | 15.08 |
16 | 17 | Miles Sanders | 12.32 | 15.03 |
20 | 18 | Jaylen Samuels | 10.44 | 14.52 |
18 | 19 | Phillip Lindsay | 11.58 | 14.24 |
19 | 20 | Ronald Jones | 10.99 | 13.82 |
29 | 21 | James White | 8.89 | 13.58 |
28 | 22 | Jamaal Williams | 9.00 | 12.99 |
22 | 23 | Brian Hill | 10.12 | 12.91 |
21 | 24 | Joe Mixon | 10.21 | 12.40 |
26 | 25 | Duke Johnson | 9.25 | 12.06 |
25 | 26 | Latavius Murray | 9.74 | 11.57 |
32 | 27 | Kareem Hunt | 7.72 | 11.48 |
35 | 28 | Tarik Cohen | 7.40 | 11.14 |
24 | 29 | Sony Michel | 9.76 | 10.98 |
37 | 30 | Nyheim Hines | 6.82 | 10.78 |
27 | 31 | Raheem Mostert | 9.20 | 10.49 |
23 | 32 | Carlos Hyde | 10.09 | 10.46 |
31 | 33 | Trey Edmunds | 7.92 | 10.38 |
38 | 34 | JD McKissic | 6.74 | 10.10 |
36 | 35 | Kalen Ballage | 7.17 | 9.52 |
34 | 36 | Adrian Peterson | 7.63 | 9.24 |
33 | 37 | Jonathan Williams | 7.68 | 8.75 |
30 | 38 | Bo Scarbrough | 8.51 | 9 |
40 | 39 | Royce Freeman | 6 | 7.67 |
41 | 40 | Derrius Guice | 5.94 | 7.50 |
So who should you sit and start this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 12 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.
